NLV reaches tentative agreement with Teamsters to avoid layoffs

By Rich Coleman

Thursday, Oct. 28, 2010 | 11:48 p.m.

The City of North Las Vegas has reached a tentative agreement with Teamsters Local 14 that is expected to save a number of targeted Teamsters positions, city spokeswoman Juliet Casey said on Thursday.

At a special City Council meeting on Monday, staff will recommend approving a budget reduction plan presented last week for fiscal years 2011-2012, totaling up to $35.1 million, Casey said in an e-mail message.

City officials announced a plan Oct. 20 to eliminate 251 full-time positions over the next two fiscal years. Many of the positions, including 30 in the Public Works Department, were Teamsters.

The cuts also included 33 jobs with the fire department and 93 positions at the police department, groups that, until recently, had escaped layoffs.

Casey said Thursday that city staff would recommend that the City Council authorize the city manager to begin the reduction in force to address the budget deficit.

Casey said the city manager would delay issuing layoff notices to workers represented by Teamsters Local 14, pending union ratification and approval by the City Council. No details of the agreement were immediately available.

The city will continue to work with other bargaining units to mitigate position reductions, she said. Staff will continue to provide budget updates and the normal budget process will continue throughout the fiscal year, she said.